Protests over UK travel warning

Kenya has accused the US and three other countries of “unfriendly acts” after they issued travel warnings in response to recent terrorist attacks in Mombasa and Nairobi.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said in a statement on Thursday that the advisories by the US, the UK, Australia and France were unnecessary as the four countries had equally borne the brunt of global terrorism.

“The challenges arising from acts of terrorism require concerted efforts to fight it and not behaving in a manner that accelerates it by causing fear and panic,” he said. “Issuance of such advisories only plays to the whims of bad elements in society whose aim is to spread fear and panic.”

On Monday, Australia updated its travel advice and urged its citizens to reconsider their need to travel to both Mombasa and Nairobi in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in the two cities. France also issued an advisory the same day.

And on Wednesday, the British Government warned its citizens against travelling to Mombasa, Eastleigh in Nairobi and areas within 60 kilometres of the Kenya-Somalia border unless such travel was essential and unavoidable.

Britain also urged its citizens to take comprehensive medical covers before visiting Kenya. It also asked them to keep abreast with local news and to remain vigilant at all times and avoid areas with large crowds.

France’s advisory specifically urged “extra vigilance” to those planning to stay at a particular beach hotel south of Mombasa.

CONCERNS OVER TERRORISM

On Thursday, the British Government said it had no choice but to recommend that all UK citizens living in or on holiday around Mombasa to move out as soon as possible because of its concerns over terrorism.

Despite predictions that the new travel ban could hurt Kenya’s tourism industry due to knock-on effects for tourists from other countries, the British Foreign Office said that it did not take the move “lightly” and that the decision had been made at the ministerial level.

“We are aware of the concerns this will cause in Kenya. But the safety of British nationals is our priority and this decision was very carefully thought through.”

The areas affected by the new warnings are Mombasa and a three-mile-wide coastal strip within which are numerous resorts popular with British tourists, especially package holidaymakers.

The British Foreign Office estimated that around 5,500 Britons currently in the area would be affected.

A spokesman said that the warning had been “intelligence-led” but would not say if they were aware of a specific terrorism threat.

Despite the advisories, Kenya has reiterated its cordial relations with the four nations and maintained that it will continue to cooperate with them in various areas including the fight against terrorism.